Paul Temple and the Tyler Mystery by Francis Durbridge

Author:Francis Durbridge [Francis Durbridge]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Seldon Chase was a fine Georgian mansion standing in a park of about a hundred acres, some five miles beyond Aylesbury. It was shortly before four when the Frazer Nash rumbled through the old market town; seven minutes later Temple swung in through the gates. Though neither Steve nor he mentioned it, both were thinking that they were now entering the territory of a man whose car had so very nearly ended their lives.

The park was peaceful and typically English under the warm May sunshine, but as they drove up the long avenue Temple noted unmistakable signs of neglect. Westeral had the reputation of being one of the wealthiest young men in London, but it was clear that very little money was available for the upkeep of Seldon Chase. Appearances were kept up to some extent, though, for a butler was waiting for them on the top of an imposing set of steps before the car had come to a halt on the broad sweep of gravel at the front of the house.

‘Is his lordship expecting you, sir?’ he inquired rather pointedly as Steve and Temple began to mount the steps.

‘It was Mr Westeral we hoped to see. He told me he would probably be here if we called in. He is at home, I hope?’

‘Oh, Mr Westeral? Yes, sir. If you will come this way— His lordship, you see, is not receiving visitors these days—’

The old man hobbled off ahead of them, mumbling fussily as he went. He parked them in a drawing room which had once been splendid and elegant but was now only a sad reminder of changing times. There were white squares on the walls where pictures had once hung and the tapestry seats of the chairs were faded and worn.

Westeral had heard the car in the drive and appeared almost at once. He did not seem surprised when Temple introduced himself and presented Steve.

‘How nice of you to come all this way! Now you’re here you’ll stay to tea, of course. I’m sorry Jenkie showed you into this mausoleum. I did warn you it was bleak down here, didn’t I? Let’s go out onto the terrace. I usually have tea out there when I’m here. Are you interested in azaleas, Mrs Temple? We have a rather good display here. My father won’t come down if you don’t mind. He really lives in his room all the time now—’

Chatting agreeably he led them through the hall and library, out onto a terrace overlooking the garden. A group of brightly coloured garden chairs, shaded by a Continental umbrella, provided a gay foreground to the sombre and almost derelict background. Glancing up towards the house, Steve was alarmed to see a grey and lined face with frighteningly deep set eyes staring down at her malignantly from behind the curtains of an upstairs window. Thereafter she kept her gaze strictly at ground level, and felt profoundly thankful that Lord Seldon had not joined them for tea.

Westeral was of a type which generally reduced Temple to silence or single-syllable remarks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.